Are Chattogram Royals becoming the new Durbar Rajshahi?

Newcomers Chattogram Royals have so far made headlines for all the negative reasons and they once again found themselves in deep trouble as many of their foreign players decided not to join the side ahead of the upcoming 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL T20), scheduled to start on December 26 in Sylhet.

Chattogram earlier have signed Pakistanj spinner Abrar Ahmed before the auction while they also roped in the service of Sri Lankan duo Niroshan Dickwella and Angelo Perera from the players auction held on November 30.

Even they have also roped in the service of Irish batter Paul Stirling, South Africa's Cameron Delport and Pakistan's Kamran Ghulam after the auction.

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Full Fixtures of BPL 12

However, according to a Chattogram official, the participation of Abrar, Dickwella and Paul in the upcoming BPL is almost uncertain due to several reasons. Another Sri Lankan player Perera has already ruled out of the competition due to injury issues.

"Due to the national team training camp for the World Cup, Dickwella won't come. He has told us that the board won't give him NOC. The PCB is yet to confirm Abrar's NOC and that's why his partticipation is also doubtful. Meanwhile, Stirling has directly confirmed that he won't play in the BPL this year," a Chattogram official told The Daily Star on Tuesday.

As things stand, Chattogram now has only two foreign signings - Delport, who last featured in a top franchise league back in 2021-22, and Ghulam from Pakistan and they are hopeful of roping in another foreign player before their opening match against Noakhali Express, scheduled on the opening day of the tournament.

According to the BPL rules, team must field two foreign players and maximum four foreign players in a match and Chattogram are now fighting against time to fulfuill the criteria otherwise the opening day of the BPL 12 may witness the similar situation like last season when Durbar Rajshahi failed to field any single foreign player against Rangpur Riders earlier this year due to payment related issue.

Meanwhile, Chattogram players, who completed their first practice session at Sylhet Outer Stadium on Tuesday, had to reach their team hotel with a coaster bus from the airport on Monday, for which they had to ensure severe backlash.

Even BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul had to come with strong words during a press conference on Tuesday that the franchises must follow certain things for the betterment of the BPL.

"The BPL is yet to start. There are some roles from the BCB and some from franchises. The BPL governing council is following the things. The franchises must follow the rules and they are given instructions in these regards," said Bulbul.